Ameri$peak Updates

This is a free supplement to the master edition of Ameri$peak published by Succeed in America and available at http://www.succeedinamerica.com/books.html

Be able to recognize and understand these words and expressions. However, use them with caution - many of them are inappropriate in formal situations (although may sound natural when used by native speakers).

As in most parts of the world, language in the US is constantly evolving. This is especially true regarding conversational language in the business environment. In order to keep up with the changes, we have created this link dedicated to frequent updates and additions of words, expressions and concepts in step with an ever-evolving business environment.

We encourage you, the reader, to give us your input. If you learned a new word or expression, not reflected in the mini-dictionary, found a mistake or misprint or have any comments, please e-mail us at nv@SucceedinAmerica.com.

A
Add up to: to result in; amount to

B

Bear hug: a rigorous, emotional embrace which signifies a greeting  (the individuals’ hands embrace each other and upper parts of the body come in close contact for a second or two)

Be into something: enjoy doing something
Bent out of shape: become upset

Bite off more than you can handle: take on more responsibility than you can handle

Blow a fuse: lose your temper

Blow (one's) top: get mad, start yelling

Blown away: greatly impressed

BTW: by the way

Bummed: depressed

C

Come up for air: take a break

Con: deceive

D

Dough: money

E

.

F

Fuzzy: unclear [your memory of the transaction gets a little fuzzy]

G

Game plan: plan

Get kick out of: enjoy

Give somebody a leg up: give an advantage

H

Has deep pockets: has a good source of money

Head-on: directly, with determination to win [He approached the problem head-on]

Honcho: boss

I

J

K
Keep your cool: remain calm

Kettle: a fine kettle of fish: a difficult, troubling predicament or situation

L

Laid-back: calm and relaxed

M

My bad!: my mistake!

P

Paint oneself in a corner: create a problem with no apparent solution

Put somebody down: to produce a critical damaging action or remark

Put on: try to fool someone

Put out: reveal, make public, disclose

Q

R

(to) rob Peter to pay Paul

R.S.V.P.:  stands for a French phrase “Respondez S'il Vous Plait” which means “please reply”.  It means that a person sending an invitation would like you to reply if you will attend the event

S

Shift gears: (to) change the subject or strategy

Sleep on it: don't rush to judgement, take time to make a decision

T

U

V

W

(tail) Wag the dog: a small, usually insignificant, item causes a large function to change

Work the room: (to) network with everybody in the room

To walk on water: to be supreme

X

Y

You bet! - Yes!

Z

Zero in on    (to) aim at